Northwestern

Smith's return bolsters Cats' secondary

November 16, 2005|By Terry Bannon.

Freshman safety Brendan Smith, out with a knee injury since taking a helmet to his knee returning an interception Oct. 22 at Michigan State, is expected back for Saturday's game. Smith said he isn't counting on reclaiming his starting job right away.

"I have to show I still know what I'm doing out there," he said. . . .

Coach Randy Walker said he plans to stick with Ryan Pederson, who averaged 42.8 yards at Ohio State, as his punter Saturday. Slade Larscheid got the first shot at Ohio State and averaged 39 yards. "I don't think Slade did a bad job, but we had a lot of things we wanted to get straight in punting and we worked overtime [Tuesday], and we corrected some things," Walker said. . . .

Running back Tyrell Sutton practiced with a wrap on his left hand, which he injured Saturday. . . . Wide receiver Mark Philmore was held out of contact work to protect a sore shoulder, which took a hit Saturday. "It's nothing, but we'd rather he not get hit," Walker said. . . . Despite the damp conditions, Northwestern practiced outside Tuesday. "If I can at all go outside, I'll go outside," Walker said.